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Regular
Posts: 55
Location: Wright City, Mo | We recently purchased our first LQ trailer. A C&C with a weekender package. I plugged it in to a dedicated outlet in the barn and ran the air conditioner for about 30 minutes. Everything worked as it should and as I was unplugging the power cord from the outlet I noticed that the plug end was warm to the touch and that the recepticle end that attached to the trailer was warm as well. Not hot, just a bit warm. Is this normal? Should I be concerned? Thanks! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368
Location: Georgia | What size outlet were you using? If you were using an adapter and using less than a 30amp outlet, it will be warm. That is assuming your trailer cord has a 30 amp plug. |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
  
Location: Vermont | What was the circuit rating for the barn circuit?How LONG was the extension cord...What was its rating?Use this to calculate what your gauge of wire should be... http://www.csgnetwork.com/wiresizecalc.html
Edited by PaulChristenson 2011-06-01 10:21 PM
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | If the plugs were warm, the wiring is too light an AWG for the service. Is your dedicated outlet a 30 or 20 amp service? If you used a 20 amp adapter, that could be the problem. If it is a 30 amp service with no adapter, then the shore cord is not adequate for the load. Consistant under guage usage can lead to overheating, which is always a problem. Most HD cords are at least 10 AWG or larger. |
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Regular
Posts: 55
Location: Wright City, Mo | The dedicated circuit is a 30 amp single pole circuit, approx. 4 feet in length using 12 gauge wire. Would 10 gauge be better? The plug recepticle is rated 20amps. Couldn't find one rated 30 amps anywhere. Could that be my problem? Should I switch it over to an RV type recepticle? Can those be obtained from Lowes or Home Depot, or only from an electric supply house. Maybe an RV dealer? The trailer power cord is about 50 feet long and came with the trailer. It has an adapter attached to convert it from the RV type plug to the standard residential style. Could the adapter not be rated high enough? Is it marked on the adapter? It's still dark out, once it gets light I'll go out and check. The adapter end that attached to the RV cord got warm, and the opposite end of the RV cord that attached to the trailer plug got warm as well. Thanks again. |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | If you're trying to run 30 amps through a 12 AWG wire 50 ft, you don't have enough capacity. WalMart and many RV suppliers, sell premade 10 AWG extension cords with the 30 amp plugs as standard equippment. However, many of them are only 30 feet long. Your present plugs and wiring is not of a sufficient capacity, for the continuous load your trailer needs. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368
Location: Georgia | I had to call around and eventually found a 30amp outlet at a dedicated Electrical source (supplier to actual electricians)...Not a big box store. You really want to have a 30amp outlet and NOT a 20amp one so you can ditch the adapter. If you don't have a source in your town, see if you can "google" and find one to order. |
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Regular
Posts: 55
Location: Wright City, Mo | The RV power cord is 10 gauge wire and is an actual RV cord. The 12 gauge wire is from the panel to the recepticle. A distance of about 4 feet. The 30 amp adapter though is 12/3. Might be a little light. |
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Regular
Posts: 55
Location: Wright City, Mo | Okay, here's what I did. I scrapped the whole first attempt. Ran to Lowes and picked up an RV receptacle (Yes they sell them there, but Home Depot doesn't) a box and a plate. Bought some 10/2 wire and went home. Wired it up, ditched the adapter and plugged the RV cord directly into the RV receptacle and VOILA!! Everything worked!  Ran the AC for 45 minutes and there wasn't any warmth or heat from either end of the RV cord. Should have done it that way to begin with!!  Wasn't any more difficult or time consuming. A bit more expensive, but worth the extra piece of mind. Thanks to all who replied.  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368
Location: Georgia | woooooooohooooooooooo! Love it when it all comes together just as it should! Glad you switched it over! Enjoy! |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | Any system is only as good as its weakest link. Now you have an electrical supply that will serve you well. Your upgrades will give you peace of mind, better opperation and safety. Well done. |
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Expert
Posts: 1205
Location: Arkansas | We did this all too, and now have a dedicated 30 RV plug on the side of the barn with 10 guage wire from the breaker box to the receptacle, and no warm connections etc. No adapters needed! (altho every adapter made by man is in our goody box, I swear) |
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LQ Electric question
